The Bluebird and the Sparrow

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Berta is 2 years old, and life so far seems great. She has great parents, and is learning new things every day. Then, one day, her mother has a baby, Glenna.

Glenna grows up beautiful, bubbly, and friendly. Berta, determined not to be influenced by her sister or the fashions of the day, decides that she will not grow up like Glenna. She grows up to be prim and sensible, and always believes that her looks are inferior to Glenna's.

During this book, I just wanted to shout at Berta to lighten up a little bit, but I can also relate to some of her feelings. In the end, though, She and her sister are both happy.

Rating:
Summary: Realistic heroines
Review: Heroine:? plain/average

Berta Berdette has never been able to get over her resentment of her beautiful younger sister with the "charmed" life and handsome husband. All-or-nothing negative Berta is so angry that she wasn't born beautiful too, that she refuses to even try to be "just pretty", shunning lovely hairstyles and clothing and dressing in the primmest, plainest manner possible.

But God shows Berta that her attempts to spite the people around her hurt no one more than herself, and ultimately helps her to open her heart to love: His, hers, and that of a good man.

What worked for me:

The story starts early in Berta's life, and the deft description of a young child adjusting to a new baby was excellent and right on target.

I always enjoy stories which invoke warm memories of some of my favorite childhood reads like the "Little House" and "Anne of Green Gables" series.

Size-wise there are no descriptions given to Berta or her sister. We only know that one is "plain" and the other is "lovely".

What didn't work for me:

?????I understand what the moral of the story is, but it seems like this book just hammered it home a few times too many. Berta's bitterness and self-pity became harder and harder to take as the years rolled by.

Overall:

Fans of Western Historical Christian novels should enjoy this one.

Rating:
Summary: Realistic heroines
Review: Heroine:  plain/average

Berta Berdette has never been able to get over her resentment of her beautiful younger sister with the "charmed" life and handsome husband. All-or-nothing negative Berta is so angry that she wasn't born beautiful too, that she refuses to even try to be "just pretty", shunning lovely hairstyles and clothing and dressing in the primmest, plainest manner possible.

But God shows Berta that her attempts to spite the people around her hurt no one more than herself, and ultimately helps her to open her heart to love: His, hers, and that of a good man.

What worked for me:

The story starts early in Berta's life, and the deft description of a young child adjusting to a new baby was excellent and right on target.

I always enjoy stories which invoke warm memories of some of my favorite childhood reads like the "Little House" and "Anne of Green Gables" series.

Size-wise there are no descriptions given to Berta or her sister. We only know that one is "plain" and the other is "lovely".

What didn't work for me:

     I understand what the moral of the story is, but it seems like this book just hammered it home a few times too many. Berta's bitterness and self-pity became harder and harder to take as the years rolled by.

Overall:

Fans of Western Historical Christian novels should enjoy this one.

Rating:
Summary: Realistic heroines
Review: Heroine:  plain/average

Berta Berdette has never been able to get over her resentment of her beautiful younger sister with the "charmed" life and handsome husband. All-or-nothing negative Berta is so angry that she wasn't born beautiful too, that she refuses to even try to be "just pretty", shunning lovely hairstyles and clothing and dressing in the primmest, plainest manner possible.

But God shows Berta that her attempts to spite the people around her hurt no one more than herself, and ultimately helps her to open her heart to love: His, hers, and that of a good man.

What worked for me:

The story starts early in Berta's life, and the deft description of a young child adjusting to a new baby was excellent and right on target.

I always enjoy stories which invoke warm memories of some of my favorite childhood reads like the "Little House" and "Anne of Green Gables" series.

Size-wise there are no descriptions given to Berta or her sister. We only know that one is "plain" and the other is "lovely".

What didn't work for me:

     I understand what the moral of the story is, but it seems like this book just hammered it home a few times too many. Berta's bitterness and self-pity became harder and harder to take as the years rolled by.

Overall:

Fans of Western Historical Christian novels should enjoy this one.

Rating:
Summary: It was the most emotional book I have ever read!
Review: I felt so into it at the begining and at the end I felt wonderful, spiritlifted! I can never describe how wonderful this book was and how wonderful it will make anyone feel! A book everyone should read!

Rating:
Summary: one of her best!
Review: I have always wanted a younger sister, and I never thought of the bad things, I only thought of the good things about having one;untill I got one that is. This story reminded me of me and my sister. I was better off than the oldest one was though, because my parents believed in being fair to the end!After i read that book, i stretched closer to my sister, because i have realized the importance of sistership.thank you!

Rating:
Summary: It was incredibly emotional
Review: I loved it,it was so feeling.I felt what it would be like to be in that persons shoes.I absolutely loved it.Anyone looking for a spirit lifter this is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing attempt from a usually great author....
Review: I read this book, as I've read all of J. Oke's books, expecting a really good read. The book was written in much the same way all the others are; easy-to-read, "brain candy" with a Christian message. I like to read her books because I don't have to be worried about exposing my mind to questionable (immoral) content. In this regard, she was right on target. However.....

I did NOT like the characters in this particular book. Two sisters are compared throughout the entire book, one very sweet and popular, the other not as pretty, and very bitter about the fact that baby sis gets all the attention. I found myself wanting to slap the whiney sister. No wonder no one wanted to be her beau. I think that it had way more to do with ugliness of personality (whiney, grating, irritating.... I really did NOT like this woman) than of physical appearance. I got really really tired of listening to her little pity parties. (WOW! I sound so harsh!) Finally, too near the end of the book, she finds happiness. By then, I didn't care. I was too sick of her.

Frankly, I could not WAIT to get through this one, and although I will continue to read Oke's other books over and over again, this is one to which I will never again subject myself.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing attempt from a usually great author....
Review: I read this book, as I've read all of J. Oke's books, expecting a really good read. The book was written in much the same way all the others are; easy-to-read, "brain candy" with a Christian message. I like to read her books because I don't have to be worried about exposing my mind to questionable (immoral) content. In this regard, she was right on target. However.....

I did NOT like the characters in this particular book. Two sisters are compared throughout the entire book, one very sweet and popular, the other not as pretty, and very bitter about the fact that baby sis gets all the attention. I found myself wanting to slap the whiney sister. No wonder no one wanted to be her beau. I think that it had way more to do with ugliness of personality (whiney, grating, irritating.... I really did NOT like this woman) than of physical appearance. I got really really tired of listening to her little pity parties. (WOW! I sound so harsh!) Finally, too near the end of the book, she finds happiness. By then, I didn't care. I was too sick of her.

Frankly, I could not WAIT to get through this one, and although I will continue to read Oke's other books over and over again, this is one to which I will never again subject myself.

Rating:
Summary: The Bluebird and the Sparrow According to me
Review: I think that The Bluebird and The Sparrow is wonderfully true about certain families. I tells the reader that Berta cannot stand to be around Glenna. And Glenna loves to be around Berta. I recommend this book to any teenager who likes funny but yet traumatizing stories.