Sunday, July 26, 2020

getting to know you through books...


Jessamy (Barbara Sleigh book - cover art).jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessamy
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/

 1.  Why did you pick the book?
A: I cannot choose one book, or author, as a favorite as I LOVE reading and listening to books being read to me. I like stories, and writing. I like a lot of genres. I have a book page of some authors and books I've read and really enjoyed. Some Authors I've read
Rhys Bowen, Sara Dunant, Laura Childs, Diana Gabaldon, Jodi Thomas, Maeve Binchy

 I chose this book as a child because of the cover, and I needed to do a book report. It was on the new book shelf in the school library and called to me!

I chose this book to discuss today because it made a big impact on me as a 12 year old. I read it many times as a child and a few years ago went back and found a copy to re read. 
Generally it's about:
A young girl is shuttled between two aunts homes, mostly being ignored, and is transported to an earlier time when the house was new...
 
2.  What did you think about the book?
A: It was magical, and felt very real at the same time, like life could be magical

3.  What do you know about the author?

A: She was British, and wrote for children in an adult way that didn't talk down to them

4.  What’s the most memorable scene?

A: The young girl, who was generally ignored, was allowed to investigate the old house, and found a closet with an old pinnafore and height marks on the wall from kids who lived here long ago. She saw her name, and was transported back in time. 

It started me thinking about time, and how we'd influence the future if we went back into the past, it would change things and how would that change what you had left in the present??? 
It kind of freaked me out, the same way imagining infinite space and galaxies. What?! What's beyond that??? what's beyond THAT???

5.  How did the book make you feel?

A: Like time travel was possible and I could actually go see how people lived. I felt hopeful that I wouldn't always be stuck in my household, like there were possibilities for me

6.  How do you feel about the way the story was told?

A: it was the first novel I read that totally transported me, I got lost in it and felt like I was the little girl in it.
I was very into history by that age, and wanted so much to travel back to see what life was really like. I've never lost that need, today I watch tv shows about archeology, I read history magazines and archeology magazines and books. I like historical fiction. 
My fave series is Diana Gabaldon's OUtlander series and I've read all the books. 

7.  Which parts of the book stood out to you?
A: visualizing the old home, and the relationships between the characters

8.  Which specific parts of the protagonist can you relate to?
A: I was adopted and alternately ignored, abused, and overindulged...  I never fit into the family and was told I'd better be good. I felt like the visitor always, the one who could be asked to leave, the one that better not make waves. The protagonist wasn't hurt in the book but she was not valued either.
 I wanted to find a time to travel into where I could fit as well as jessamy did.

9.  Which character did you relate to the most?

A: the girl

10. Share a line or passage from the book.

A:  sorry it's been a long time since it was read

11. What did you think about the ending?
A: I liked it, the way it connected the circle of time

12. Is the story plot driven or character driven?

A: well rounded characterizations within a strong plot line
d
13. If the book was made into a movie, what changes or decisions would you hope for?

A: I always hope the clothes and hair follow the real trend of the times. So often people do historical shows and have present day make-up and hairdos. It aggravates me.
I like how Outlander's shows have them dirty, it was a dirty time!

14. How did the book change you?

A: hard to say... I think it started a life long desire to know about people from history, and it gives me pleasure to visit old places and museums today. I want to know about the actual lives of people and their challenges.
15. If the book is part of a series, how does it stand on its own
?
A: NA

Linking to
sunday stealing


6 comments:

Lori said...

This sounds like a really good book! Thanks for sharing. Loved your answers. Have a nice Sunday.

https://lorisbusylife.blogspot.com/

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

So fun that you can remember a book so clearly from your childhood, and how much you related to it! Sounds like a good one!

CountryDew said...

That book really made an impression. Thank you for sharing it and such an intimate look at why it touched you.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

I've written the title in my notebook. That's how much you're review impressed me. When I read how felt like a visitor in your adopted family, I thought about Jane Eyre as a child, which book I'm discussing today. I may have been a bitter, or, at least, rather negative person, today, if I hadn't read stories about and identified with independent-minded, kind, positive girl characters.

Kwizgiver said...

I've never seen this book--what a lovely impression it made on you.

Sara said...

I’ve always lost myself in books. It would be impossible to choose any one book or even one author as a favorite. I do seem to prefer fiction, and have a particular love of a good mystery. As a kid I devoured Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew books.