The Fulfillment

Rating:
Summary: Puhleeze...
Review: At first I didn't like the whole, "my uncle is my daddy theme!" And then the husband is, ironically and tragically, killed by his prized bull. I figured, maybe this is when Lavyrle first started writing, or maybe someone was giving her too much weird story lines? Well, whatever it was, I didn't expect this from LS.

One thing I can say, however, is that the story gives you something to think about relationships, hardships, and the agony of wanting a child and coping with not having one.

It was buried really deep, but if that was the message, then I got it!

Rating:
Summary: Puhleeze...
Review: Could this story have been any less imaginative? Totally unoriginal, completely predictable, and utterly bland.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not a favorite !!
Review: I did enjoy this book, but it wasn't my favorite LaVyrle Spencer book. Jonathon and his brother Aaron share their family farm in Minnesota. Mary and Jonathon are married but childless after 7 years of marriage. Jonathon suggests that his brother father his child, since he is unable to. Although the three of them have lived a happy life on the farm, this idea puts a strain on their relationship. When Jonathan leaves home for a few days to purchase a prize bull, the relationship between Mary and Aaron is ignited and the predictable happens. While at first I found this storyline rather appalling, it does become beliveable. My interest picked up and I read on eagerly to the conclusion. The story held my interest and I would recommend it to other readers. I particularly enjoy Spencers historical and prairie stories and most readers will not be disappointed in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Good, But Not My Favorite!!
Review: I did enjoy this book, but it wasn't my favorite LaVyrle Spencer book. Jonathon and his brother Aaron share their family farm in Minnesota. Mary is married to Jonathon but they are childless after 7 years of marriage. After much thought, Jonathon suggests that his brother father his child, since he is unable to. Although the three of them have lived a happy life on the farm, this idea puts a strain on their relationship. When Jonathan leaves home for a few days to purchase a prize bull, the relationship between Mary and Aaron is ignited and the predictable happens. While at first I found this storyline rather appalling, it is interesting to read. My interest picked up and I read on eagerly to the conclusion. The story held my interest and I would recommend it to other readers. I particularly enjoy Spencers historical and prairie stories and most readers will not be disappointed in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not a favorite !!
Review: I did enjoy this book, but it wasn't my favorite LaVyrle Spencer book. Jonathon and his brother Aaron share their family farm in Minnesota. Mary and Jonathon are married but childless after 7 years of marriage. Jonathon suggests that his brother father his child, since he is unable to. Although the three of them have lived a happy life on the farm, this idea puts a strain on their relationship. When Jonathan leaves home for a few days to purchase a prize bull, the relationship between Mary and Aaron is ignited and the predictable happens. While at first I found this storyline rather appalling, it does become beliveable. My interest picked up and I read on eagerly to the conclusion. The story held my interest and I would recommend it to other readers. I particularly enjoy Spencers historical and prairie stories and most readers will not be disappointed in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Good, But Not My Favorite!!
Review: I did enjoy this book, but it wasn't my favorite LaVyrle Spencer book. Jonathon and his brother Aaron share their family farm in Minnesota. Mary is married to Jonathon but they are childless after 7 years of marriage. After much thought, Jonathon suggests that his brother father his child, since he is unable to. Although the three of them have lived a happy life on the farm, this idea puts a strain on their relationship. When Jonathan leaves home for a few days to purchase a prize bull, the relationship between Mary and Aaron is ignited and the predictable happens. While at first I found this storyline rather appalling, it does become beliveable. My interest picked up and I read on eagerly to the conclusion. The story held my interest and I would recommend it to other readers. I particularly enjoy Spencers historical and prairie stories and most readers will not be disappointed in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Found By mistake.. But Loved it
Review: I was actually looking for [something else] but somehow google chose to send me to this site, and this book. On a whim, intrigued, I began to look into the book for more detail. I made the decision, purchased the book, and was pleasently impressed. It's amazing how often the things you look for are not what you find, but what you find is better than what you were looking for!

Rating:
Summary: It's A Hard Life
Review: The story is set in the harsh farmlands of Minnesota in the early 20th century. Mary became the wife of Jonathan Gray and took up her life in the Minnesota wheat fields. They lived a quiet, placid, hard-working life working on the farm that Jonathan inherited from his parents. Jonathan's brother Aaron shares farming duties and lives in the house with them, since the house was his inheritance. They seem to have a satisfying life, but after 7 years of marriage, Jonathan and Mary still haven't had a child.

Their childlessness starts to cause a strain on the marriage, and Jonathan finally realizes that the mumps he had as a child probably made him sterile. However, he is aware that his brother Aaron was not similarly affected by the disease. He suddenly announces to Mary and Aaron that he would like them to procreate to give him a child. Mary and Aaron are stunned by this news, and a previously happy household becomes strained and filled with unspoken fears and concerns. The relationships between all 3 of them becomes strained.

Jonathan leaves for a weekend to purchase a prize bull to start a new herd, and the uneasy relationship between Mary and Aaron ignites into passion. The outcome is predictable, as Mary becomes pregnant immediately, and when she announces it to her husband, no one discusses the fact that the child is Aaron's. Mary is wracked with guilt, and her relationship with Aaron seems beyond repair.

Without spoiling the ending, Mary finally learns the true meaning of love and is able to put back together the pieces of her life.

The author does a wonderful job of describing the rhythms of farm life, and the never-ending chores of being a farm wife. Although the role of women in the early 20th century was essentially subservient, Mary is truly a tower of strength and the one who makes the farm work with her never-ending toil. Reading this book will make you thankful for automatic laundry machines, microwaves, supermarkets, convenience foods and all the time-saving features of our lives that we take for granted.