Catherine, Called Birdy

Rating:
Summary: God's Thumbs! You have to read this book!
Review: "Catherine, Called Birdy" is a fantastic book. It takes place in the end of the 13th century, and it tells of a original 14-year-old, Catherine. When her father tries to force her to get married, Catherine sends her suitors packing, in absolutly hilarious ways! (Blacking out her teeth and putting mouse bones in her hair, setting fire to the privy, etc.) When Catherine finally gets a suitor who won't be tricked away, she feels trapped. But the ending turns out in a way that surprises everyone, including Catherine. This book lets you see into her dreams, fears, hopes, and wishes. It lets you into her life, and it is a great way to look into the Middle Ages from a "first-hand" account. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in this time period, or who has ever held onto a dream.

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Summary: Catherine's father controls her life, though she fights it.
Review: Although I love historical fiction books, I personally thought this one was a bomb. I had to read it for my history class, and I went along with it willingly although I'd read its description previously and decided it wasn't for me. I know it had to be good enough to get a medal for SOME reason, but I didn't see why. I liked it for few reasons. The main reason I liked it was because it gave an extremely detailed description of the general life and culture of 13th century England. What I didn't like about it was that Catherine was complaining every day about having to see some suitor and not wanting to marry Shaggy Beard. I wouldn't want to be in that position either, but she could have just done something about Shaggy Beard instead of whining about it. I know she tried to get rid of him, but she sounds so dorky when she says stuff like, "No one will help me discard of the dreaded Shaggy Beard," or, "I am still locked away, still helpless." The cover on the front of the paperback says, "She's not your average damsel in distress." Then what's the complaining all about? That sounds like a damsel in distress to me. The book doesn't make that much sense to me; if she really wanted to get out of her life and start a new one, she should have married Perkin the goat boy or something and said, "To Hell with my father and his greediness!" as he regarded things Catherine cared about, such as rescuing a bear from being torn apart by dogs by buying it with her own money. I can see where some people would like this book, though, so if you're an absolute addict to stories of damsels in distress and history (I was only interested in the history portion), I recommend that you read this book. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother, because it took even me, a book-addict of all types, a struggle to finish this book.

Rating:
Summary: Corpus Bones! I can't get enough of it!
Review: I was at first reluctant to get it when I was finished with all my other books on my way back to Botswana, but then again, I'm the sort of person who might occasionally judge a paperback by its cover. But as soon as I boarded the plane, I began reading it, and had finished it in three hours flat. The characters seem so realistic and have very individual personalities, it's hard to believe that this was not a real girl's diary from 1290/1291. Plus, Catherine was my kind of fictionous girl: spunky and tricky, independant and an individual, witty and one who speaks her mind. 'Master Lack-Wit' was my favourite phrase describing the INeligible suitors. But Shaggy-Beard posed a problem for Birdy, as he would to me(though I'm only eleven). Perkin, Uncle George, her birds...liked 'em all, and many more. No small wonder that it won a medal!

Rating:
Summary: Birdy's life is awful and all she can say is "Corpus Bones!"
Review: Catherine, a.k.a. Birdy has a life full of twists and turns. It's not easy at all living in the 1200's. Her father plans to marry her to a rich suitor no matter how ugly he is. Catherine wishes to just colapes in a ball and hide from all her sorrows and misery. But then a suitor from the far side of England more uglier and more rude than the last, decides to wed her. Very exiting and thriling. The author, Karen Cushman describes the life of a juvinile lady quite well. I recomend reading this book.

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Summary: Read It Twice!
Review: I thought the book was great. A friend reccomended it to me. She knew that I'm a rebel, just like Little Bird. It did have a few dull parts. I liked it a lot.I'm looking forward to getting my hands on "The Midwife's Appritence". I loved the part when she went into the village and got all covered with dung. As Catherine would say, "Let Morwenna burn in hell!"

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Summary: Helps you remember when women and girls had no rights!
Review: Many people have their own opinions for everything. Catherine of " Catherine called Birdy" was just that type of person. This story takes place in medival times when women and girls had no say in anything. Not even who they married. Could you imagine that? Catherine can. She goes through it everyday. She gets all of her feelings out in a daily journal, which makes up the book. This book is funny and full of romance. When Catherine's Uncle George comes to visit Catherine is thrilled, because she has always had a crush on him. It is a joyful occasion until he meets Catherine's best friend Aelis. Aelis and Uncle George fall in love and Catherine wants to do anything that will stop it. She will even try spells on them to cruse love! This is a wonderful book and I strongly recomend it.

Rating:
Summary: Incredibly Funny!
Review: I'm always a sucker for historical fiction, and I fell in love with this book. I thought it helped to have a little background on the time that Catherine lived, though - it would have helped to have a historical summary in the back of the book. Otherwise, the journal format and the Feast Day "summaries" (which I looked forward to with each new entry) were delightful!

Rating:
Summary: Medieval coming of age presents unique troubles for Birdy
Review: The diary format of this novel gives it a likeable twist on the first person narrative. Catherine is stubborn and courageous. Her imaginative pranks get her beaten, but she refuses to settle into a mundane matrimonial plight. Her compassion for trapped animals gives the reader an amazing insight into what she is feeling and why she is motivated to fight against her father's scheming. Over the course of the book she learns a great deal about herself and other people, and she learns to find peace in that discovery. A fascinating look at middle age living and a daring heroine.

Rating:
Summary: This is a wonderful book
Review: This is a great book to read because it shows the struggle of a women in the early years of man-kind. Catherine is a great role-model that shows strenth and compassian. She doesn't care what her father thinks, she WON'T marry the rich suitor he picked out. The diary form just makes the stort more imaginable. I encourage you to read it!!

Rating:
Summary: Catherine Called Birdy
Review: This book is about a girl in Medieval times. Her father is trying to marry her off to rich men who she doesn't like, so she tries to get rid of all of them by doing real funny things